A state quarantine on wood transportation in Tompkins and Chemung counties was lifted Thursday, but invasive emerald ash borer beetles still threaten the region, according to a Cornell University expert.

"There's still no question in my mind that every ash tree in New York state will be killed by the emerald ash borer if it's not treated (with pesticide)," he said.

Emerald ash borer beetles were discovered southeast of Binghamton in Broome County during 2014. The bugs have also been identified in Steuben County's Town of Bath and Tioga County's Town of Nichols.

Ash borers overwhelm entire stands of ash trees and, without pesticide intervention, the bugs kill any ash tree they infest. The pests can quickly spread if infested wood is transported to new areas.

In 2013 the state Department of Environmental Conservation announced that Tompkins and Chemung counties were part of a 42-county area under quarantine for moving firewood, wood chips and any part of ash trees.

The quarantine covered more than half of New York state, but most of the quarantined land held no known ash borers, Whitmore said.

A map of New York state emerald ash borer infested areas and quarantine boundaries. The sate updated its emerald ash borer quarantine on May 11.(Photo: New YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION / Photo Provided)

On Thursday, DEC enacted new quarantine zones. Quarantines in the Southern Tier area cover towns in Broome, Steuben and Tioga counties

"I think they will be more effective," Whitmore said.

The new regulations also allow infested ash wood to be moved freely within a restricted zone for disposal, along with other changes. Visit dec.ny.gov/animals/47761.html for more information.

The DEC press office did not respond to requests for comment on this report.

According to the DEC, ash trees make up 12-15 percent of wooded areas in Tompkins and Schuyler counties. In Broome, Tioga, Chemung and Steuben, ash trees make up 8-11 percent of wooded areas.

Still, Whitmore said that no one in New York state should transport untreated firewood.

"All it takes is one person bringing in firewood from an infested area to start an infestation," Whitmore said.